You need to remember where you have been.
You need to remember where you are.
You don't need to know where you are going.
You don't need to know where you will end up.
Recognize the familiar.
Take advantage of the unknown.
Welcome to my Cup of Cosmos. Enjoy!
(and if you need a second cup, check out my other brewing blogs under my profile)

Friday, October 25, 2013

Happy Anniversary

Today marks our one and a half year anniversary and
I got to thinking about our relationship. You are the twinkling lights, the
moonrise and the sunsets over the city skyline. You are the crazy storms,
frigid cold, and snowflakes hitting my eye lashes. I blame you for those
unbearable hot and humid days that make me feel like a limp, wet, mop. I get
frustrated with you, your popularity, and the crowds that you attract. I crave
quiet walks and calm, and I end up having to share you with everyone (and their
little dog). You are so popular that the traffic is in constant gridlock,
honking and yelling at the chance to get to you. No matter how fast I
power-walk, I never get to you on time. You never hold my reservation.
Sometimes, I wait for hours in lines for you and stand in heels on subway
platforms wishing I was home. I always make it, but sometimes you force me to
switch trains, to get derailed, to trip. You give me blisters that will last a
lifetime. Some days I am lucky. I make the train right on time, I get a
seat, and the car doesn't smell. The lucky days are the days when no one
stops and asks me for change, whistles, hoots or catcalls. Why do you let
them do that?

Sometimes you can be such a slob. You get gum on my
shoe, the kind that ends up everywhere and no matter how much peanut butter I
slather on, it never comes off. Most of the time you smell fine, never great,
but fine. But sometimes you smell awful. Sometimes you reek of urine--and it
never really goes away. You let garbage pile up all over the streets, and you
never really clean up. You are the reason that air conditioners drip onto my
clean clothes as I am walking to work. You are the one who lets black snow
collect in the gutters. You are the one who let's the mosquitoes fly into the
room and eat me alive. You don't flinch at the thought of a cockroach, and
mice are your idea of the quintessential roommate. You are the one who
doesn't recycle and probably dumps all that trash into the ocean for the next
generation. But, even with all that, we're making it work.

My favorite days are Sunday mornings, wandering
through the farmer's market. My favorite days are long walks in Central Park in
the fall, when I can wrap myself in cashmere scarves and dance in the
leaves. My fondest memories are staring up at the Christmas tree in Rockefeller
Center; wandering down Fifth Ave looking at the holiday window displays, ice
skating at Bryant Park, and the impromptu snowstorm on my birthday with all our
friends. Do you remember the scavenger hunt that lasted the whole day last
fall? Do remember our midnight walk through the park during Nemo? Do
you remember my excitement picking out my bracelet from Tiffany, and my delight
as I held the little blue box tightly in my hand? My most favorite
days are taking long runs along the West Side Hwy, countless dinners with
friends, and meandering through galleries on Saturday afternoons.

No matter what, you always put up with me. I get
grouchy. Your loud music drives me crazy. You're never a cheap date and you
refuse to go home early. You prefer a night on the town to a laid back cup of
tea and cozy movie at home. You’re the first long term relationship that has
drained my account weekly (for $10 salads and $6 lattes). You're the only
date that has cost me countless glasses of $18 wine. You club. I hate clubbing. If
you were in charge, you would prefer that I wore heels day and night, and I'm
sure you would toss my Uggs. You hate my Patagonia, my Nike and my Northface.
You probably wish that I wore more makeup and put more effort into brushing my
hair. If it was up to you, you would request that I got my nails done everyday,
pointing to a nail studio on every corner.

I know how much you love me, but I wish we had a
bigger place. I wish you would let me get a dog. I wish you would help me find
a job. I know you think that the corner office with the glass windows is
readily available, but it's not. I know you're a Democrat, but then why do we still
fight about healthcare, our zip code and monthly budgets? I know you love the
subway, but why can't I have a car? You're idea of a local brew is a bottled
beer. You're idea of a large latte is a 12oz (and that will never cut it). You
would prefer a limo, and I would prefer a bike. You’re impartial to mountains,
but I miss them with my whole heart. You think that there are plenty of trees
in Central Park, but I know, deep down, it's not a forest.

I feel so lucky to have a window. I'm glad I can
drink water right out of the tap. I'm glad we have survived the really hard
days, so that I can better appreciate the good days. You and I have come a long
way. We have grown, both inside and out. I am not sure where this journey will
take us--but, New York, I am so glad we have made it this far. New York, at the
end of the day, I don't have any regrets. I knew exactly what I was getting
myself into from day one, even though you continue to surprise me every single
day. You shake me to my core. You rattle me. You get under my skin. You pull at
my heartstrings and you push me in more ways than I know how.

I hope you continue to remind me to be thankful. I
hope you continue to remind me how lucky I am, no matter how crabby I get. I
hope, that no matter what happens between us, we always remain friends. Do
opposites attract? I'm not sure (nor am I convinced). This relationship runs
deep, and there is no one out there quite like you.